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Monthly Archives: February 2016

Declaration of the Preparatory Committee of the Second Haifa Conferencefor the Return of the Palestinian RefugeesAnd the Democratic Secular State in Historic Palestine

Endorsed by the committee in its meeting in Jaffa, 9/4/2010

The Preparatory Committee

The preparatory committee is a group of activists and individuals from different political movements and parties, human rights organizations, civil society and various sectors of public life such as the arts, academic research and culture. We have decided to work together to convene this conference out of conviction in the importance of its message.

Why we call for the Return of Palestinian refugees and the Democratic Secular State?

The Palestinian people suffer from the denial of their national and human rights, from ethnic cleansing, occupation, racism and siege. There is no end in sight to all this suffering. Suffering naturally leads to resistance, which is confronted with oppression. The result is a continuing conflict, denial of rights and bloody wars. The prolonged conflict forms an escalating threat to the security of all inhabitants of the country and the peoples of the region, endangering world peace.

We believe that the solution to the conflict should be based on justice. For this reason we take first the point of view of the oppressed. The solution should provide all that is required for those whose rights are denied, to rebuild their life and assure their dignity and prosperity. Consequently, a true democratic society will be built; a society based on the principles of participation and for the benefit of all.

The Return of the Palestinian refugees

The Palestinian refugees, who lost all they had possessed during and since the ethnic cleansing of the Nakba, and who are dispersed in all corners of the globe, are the ones who suffer most from deprivation and injustice among all sectors of the Palestinian people. We choose to put the return of the refugees at the center of the agenda of our conference as we see it as the first and basic component of any solution. When we speak of al-Awda – “the Return” – we mean a concrete plan that will assure the return of the refugees to all the areas from which they were expelled. We want a genuine approach to the refugees’ cause as the holders of rights, as part of the Palestinian people and as human beings. It is not enough to dismiss their cause by an abstract verbal recognition of their rights, without providing the practical framework for their implementation.

Democracy

We should get rid of the occupation, Apartheid, racism, oppression and discrimination.

We must put an end to the destructive effects of the policies of Zionist colonization before and after the Nakba (and the creation of the state of Israel). This includes abolishing all laws, policies, measures and systems of military and civic control that oppress and discriminate according to ethnicity, religious identity and national origin. We also emphasize the need to get rid of all the manifestations of marginalization and oppression against women. The system of government should be built on equality in the civil, political, social and cultural rights for all citizens. The regime should strictly apply justice in the name of all the people, with all their different identities.

We believe that the best solution for all is that all the residents of Palestine and its returning refugees will live in one democratic state, without discrimination. This state will ensure human rights, equality, prosperity and full participation in building the new society for all its citizens. To ensure these rights, the prospective state will adopt a constitution that will prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, class or any other reason.

Secularism

The Zionist movement characterized Israel as a “Jewish State” and uses this racist principle as a pretext for ethnic cleansing, the denial of the refugees’ right of return and the establishment of a discriminatory system in all aspects of life. Moreover, Zionism exploited religion as a mechanism for oppression in the hands of the state, in contrast with one of the basic principals of democracy, the separation between religion and state.

Our desire for a secular state is part of the general principles of democracy that guarantee full rights for all citizens regardless of their religious or ideological affiliation and guarantee freedom of worship and the protection of the holy sites of all religions. Given the multi-cultural and multi-religious nature of society in Palestine, we believe that the secular nature of the state is a necessary condition for ensuring the full participation of all sectors of the single society in the democratic process on an equal basis. Along the same democratic principles, we reject the exploitation of secularism as an instrument of oppression and exclusion.

For the benefit of all

The democratic secular solution will unite all the Palestinian people, after decades of fragmentation and exile, through the realization of their right to self-determination by rebuilding their lives as a free people in their homeland, free of all forms of oppression and injustice.

At the same time, this is also the best solution for the Jewish inhabitants of Palestine, following the failure of Zionism to guarantee their peace and security, as they were falsely promised by consecutive Israeli governments. History already proved that the exploitation of Jewish immigration to take over Palestinian lands caused permanent conflicts and wars. The democratic secular solution provides an opportunity for the Jewish inhabitants to get rid of their colonial privileges and their association with the colonial project and from the state of hostility that is caused by all those. Only then can Jews in Palestine really integrate in the country and the region as equal citizens and not as settlers.

A solution we can achieve with our effort

It is a real solution that handles the roots of the conflict and all its aspects. For this reason it can unite all Palestinians in the country and in exile and rely on the Arab support for the just Palestinian cause. As a democratic solution, based on the principles of Human Rights, it can expose the Israeli Apartheid system, promoting and consolidating international solidarity on both popular and institutional levels. It can also be the base for genuine partnership with the sincere advocates of democracy in the Jewish community, those who do not rely on fake “peace” to maintain their privileges but seek to join the struggle against the oppressive regime.

We don’t propose “the democratization of the occupation” – we confront a regime that imposes itself by force and arrogance, depends on denying the fundamental rights of the indigenous citizens of this country and builds on the ruins of their lives. What we call for is the establishment of a new order derived from the people and built for them. This means abolishing the Zionist project and laying the foundations for a democratic secular Palestine, by embracing rights and freedom and struggling for their accomplishment.

The goals of the conference

Raise awareness of and interest in a solution based on the return of the Palestinian refugees and the democratic secular state, on both local and international levels.

Provide a forum for the exchange of opinions and experiences between the supporters of the project, leading to common activities.

In order not to end the conference as a passing airing of ideas, we will set aside its last day for consultations between those interested in following up the project.

There have been several conferences for the return of the Palestinian refugees and the democratic secular state. The Second Haifa Conference may form a turning point toward a permanent framework that works for these goals. For that reason we call upon all supporters of this cause to join the conference through attendance, written contributions and\or the organization of parallel activities. Through these activities we aspire for the establishment of a comprehensive coalition of the supporters of the return of the Palestinian refugees and the democratic secular state.

Mechanisms of Work

The Preparatory Committee works through dialogue, cooperation and transparency between all those involved in the process. The committee seeks to establish a consensus between all perspectives without favoring one over the other.

The committee aspires to open the conference for the presentation of all the different views that may promote the proposed solution. We encourage a serious and honest discussion of the main issues and the obstacles that impede the project.

The main mechanism of communication between the members of the committee will be an email list. The committee will hold periodic meetings open to all members in order to take decisions concerning the main issues, such as the program of the conference.

The Preparatory Committee will assign a coordinating committee to follow up on the practical questions between the various meetings and during the conference.

His health is deteriorating fast. The doctors that checked him are not sure he will survive this weekend.

Protest and Frustration

On Wednesday, February 10, the activists announced that they will come to transfer Muhammad to a Ramallah hospital, after he declared that he will refuse any treatment until back in the West Bank. They brought an ambulance in order to make the point clear. The police didn’t even wait for the activists to come to the hospital. They picked some names from Facebook and called people to warn them not to come to Afula and declared that what they were doing is an illegal demonstration.

Police units that specialize in oppressing demonstration were present in big numbers. The

ٍStop Administrative Detention

protesters, about a hundred of them, gathered near the entrance to the hospital, standing on the side of the street not to block the traffic. The ambulance that came to take Al-Qiq was not allowed in. When the Palestinian flag was raised the police thugs tried to attack and take it down.

The day before there was a bigger demonstration, called by the “Follow-Up Committee of the Arab Masses”, with most of the leadership and some 300 demonstrators from all the Palestinian political parties inside the 48 occupied territories. It was the biggest protest yet in front of the hospital. In Haaretz, the only Israeli newspaper that is supposed to notice, there was a two line item saying “tens in front of the Afula hospital”.

Yesterday some youth were calling on Facebook for another protest in front of the hospital. This time the police wasn’t satisfied with threatening telephone calls, but came to the house of the activist that raised the event to take him for interrogation. Big repressive forces were waiting in front of the hospital and the youth just went in to visit Muhammad in his room.

There are two Jewish women that demonstrate daily in the entrance to the hospital. They are sometimes harassed by Zionist passers-by. When Arab activists tried to defend them against harassment, two of the activists were arrested and later released on condition that they will not enter Afula.

Near Muhammad Al-Qiq’s bed

Since the “suspension” of the administrative detention a week ago, we can visit Muhammad in his small room in the hospital, but there are always armed policemen at the room’s door.

Being able to meet Muhammad was an unusual experience for the constant stream of visitors. If they were lucky to find him awake, they were amazed by his sympathetic and modest personality. He made a big effort to smile to everybody, to encourage and praise them instead of being praised and encouraged. He received everybody with good sense of humor. Entering the room for the second time I was astonished that he remembered me and greeted me like an old friend.

Visitors at the Hospital with Al-Qiq

A close ring of guardians was formed around Muhammad Al-Qiq in the hospital. Some are old time activists and some are ordinary people that come and stay for whole days, changing shifts near his bed or hanging around near the entrance to the department.

Afula is a Jewish town – just recently there were angry demonstrations there against Arabs that bought a piece of land to build houses in a new project. But Afula is surrounded by Arab townships. It seems that most of the patients in the hospital and most of the visitors are Arab. Many families that come to visit their seek relatives stay for some time to express their solidarity with the constant

Tuesday 9/2: Palestinian flag in the demo of the Arab masses in front of Afula Hospital

gathering near the department where Al-Qiq is imprisoned.

But in the last days the occasions when you can speak with Al-Qiq and enjoy his charming personality are becoming short and far-between.

The sympathetic crowd is becoming despaired and helpless. They try to call the lawyers to learn whether there is anything new in the negotiations – but it is becoming hard to find the lawyers either. They suspect that the lawyers are as helpless as them as they don’t have any real partner on the Israeli side to talk to.

It seems the Israeli occupation regime simply want Muhammad Al-Qiq to die – to teach Palestinians another lesson in the long list, all with the same conclusion: That their Human Rights and their Lives have no value.

Only International Pressure Can Help

Muhammad Al-Qiq’s strike comes at a very hard time for the Palestinians.

Since the “individuals’ intifada” started last October, Palestinians are killed daily in demonstrations and on the army checkpoints. Many times it is 13 year old girls or boys that are shot again and again to verify their death as heavily armed soldiers claim to “feel threatened”.

The demolition of Arab houses and the expansion of Jewish settlements on Arab land continue on a daily basis on both sides of the green line.

All Israeli parties are competing for the favors of an overtly racist public opinion. While Al-Qiq’s hunger strike is almost totally ignored by the Israeli media, it was all full of “horror” at the news that some Arab members of the Knesset met with relatives of Palestinian Shuhada (martyrs), to try to negotiate the return of the bodies that Israel holds as another way to torture the poor innocent families. This is another extreme distortion

Friday 12/2 – Prayer in front of the hospital in solidarity with Muhammad Al-Qiq

where Israel tries to present itself as a “victim of Palestinian aggression”. The Arab MKs were duly suspended from the Knesset, which will now rush in a law to enable their expulsion. Al-Qiq’s case, of a Palestinian journalist that is held without charge or trial just for speaking up his mind, and his wholly un-violent struggle, doesn’t fit into this framework – so it is totally ignored.

Al-Qiq’s struggle already had a big effect on Palestinian society. After the first waves of mass struggle last October, the shootings, arrests and trials caused ebb in overt political activity. Now, with the call of conscience of the hunger strike people are gathering and demonstrating again. But Palestinian public opinion is not regarded in any way by Israel racist “democracy”.

To let Muhammad Al-Qiq free is not a big concession for Israel. He is on a six month Administrative Detention order. Even as this detention can be extended for unlimited number of additional terms, he was likely to be set free anyway sometime… His struggle is not for his personal liberty but about the principle, the unjust procedure of Administrative Detention that allows the occupation to arrest any Palestinian without any legal procedure and to hold them for unlimited time.

The only point where Israel is still subject to democratic pressure is international public opinion. Israel sees itself as a bulwark for the Western “culture” against the Arab “barbarism”. Its weapons, money, political support and impunity from international law come from her imperialist western backers. Now international public opinion is starting to ask questions about the justification of support to an openly racist state that constantly practice Ethnic Cleansing, occupation, denial of Human Rights, extreme oppression and bloody wars. When the whole Middle East is yearning for Democracy and the living together of people of different ethnicities and faiths, the support for Zionism has ever more disastrous consequences. The BDS movement is gaining ground and start to change the mainstream public opinion.

The case of Muhammad Al-Qiq is one place where we can put a stop on the cruelty of the occupation. If we can save his life it will be a big victory to the principle of Human Rights and Dignity.

Please do whatever you can to put pressure on Israel to let Muhammad Al-Qiq free!

On Thursday, February 4, the 72nd day to the hunger strike of Palestinian journalist Mohammed Al-Qiq against his administrative detention, Herak Haifa organized a demonstration for his release. About two hours before the demonstration, we heard in the news that the Israeli court of injustice decided to “suspend” the administrative detention

Herak Haifa Demo, Thursday 4.2: Free Muhammad Al_Qiq!

of Al-Qiq because of his deteriorating health. Immediately phone calls started arriving: “Will the demonstration be canceled?” No, we answered. We couldn’t consult Muhammad or anyone acting on his behalf. But the hunger strike is for the cancellation of administrative detention, not its “suspension.” We remembered the case of Muhammad Allan, whose administrative detention was “suspended” after more than 60 days of hunger strike, but after his health improved it was reactivated again.

The only positive outcome of the suspension is that Muhammad is not chained to the bed and one can visit him. Well, not everyone. His family is still imprisoned behind the fences closing on the “Palestinian autonomy” enclaves in the West Bank and didn’t get permission to visit him, in spite of what was allegedly said in the court. Many political activists and people of conscience among Palestinians inside the Green Line took the opportunity to visit the Mohammed Al-Qiq since Thursday. When I entered his hospital room today (Saturday, 6.2) I found him too weak to speak. By gestures and grimace he thanked his visitors and asserted his resolve.

During these visits Al-Qiq was photographed with the written message: “I continuing the strike”!

The danger is that the “suspension” of administrative detention would undermine the struggle to free Al-Qiq, thus instantly increasing the danger to his life. Even “Sikha Mekomit” (“Local Conversation”), the left pole of the Israeli political discourse, had the title “The High Court suspended the administrative detention of journalist hunger striker due to his medical condition”. Only the subtitle mentions that the strike continues “until his detention is canceled completely”. The title should have been that Israel’s court refused to cancel Al-Qiq’s administrative detention and continues to give the false appearance of legality to the occupation’s policy of detention without indictment and without any option for legal protection.

Silence, habitualization and the “cultural” appearances around the crimes of the

occupation are now killing Mohammed Al-Qiq. When Samer Issawi held hunger strike against his administrative detention in 2013, his moving letters from prison shocked the world public opinion and even touched some of the Israeli public. Some “Israeli intellectuals” saw fit to write him and ask him to stop his strike. In the last days of the hunger strike of Muhammad Allan, in August 2015, all eyes were concentrated around the hospital in Ashkelon, where the military record of the director of the hospital increased suspicions about the intention to force-feed Allan. When fascist gangs in Ashkelon attacked Allan’s sympathizers, and eventually Ashkelon’s police decided to block the entrances to the city to prevent the arrival of the sympathizers, and clashes ensued, it all caused drama that raised the pressure for Allan’s release.

Since last October Palestinian are killed every day in the “Individuals’ Intifada”. The value of Palestinian blood and Human Rights became even more dirt cheap in the eyes of Israeli and the world’s public opinion. It is becoming ever harder to mobilize public opinion against the occupation’s crimes.

The Israeli government is openly stepping on all principles of justice and human rights, on the assumption that this will lead eventually the Palestinians to despair. If this despair will cause more bloodshed they see it as a bonus, because Israeli violence is always more effective and deadly, and it promotes the aim to destroy or expel the Palestinians from their land in order to complete its robbery. For this reason they arrested the prisoners that were released in an exchange of prisoners in 2011. Thus, after the collective hunger strike of the Palestinian prisoners in 2012 terminated with promises to reduce the use of administrative detention, the occupation authorities have since doubled the number of administrative detentions.

Many “innocently” ask why Palestinians are not taking nonviolent struggle. As if the violence is the result of the Palestinians’ choice. As if the Palestinians were given a choice. Well, hunger strike is the highest form of non-violent struggle. But even against it the Israeli government’s response is escalating violence: forced feeding. Or, if doctors refuse to feed the hunger striker by force, the Israeli government and its courts are offering another solution: die quietly.

Muhammad Al-Qiq is a journalist and his administrative detention is an attack on the

freedom of speech and the public’s right, the right of all of us, to hear the truth about the crimes of the occupation.

Administrative detention is the easiest case to all supporters of the rule of law and human rights to take a clear position. This is detention without charge, without trial or legal proceeding that might give the victim a chance to refute the allegations against him.

The struggle against administrative detention is led in recent years by “intifada of individuals” in the form of prolonged hunger strikes. Fearless brave people who put their lives in danger in their demand for freedom and justice: Khader Adnan, Hana Shalabi, Samer Issawi, Muhammad Allan, Muhammad Al-Qiq.

We must not let Muhammad Al-Qiq die – Raise your voices for the sake of eliminating administrative detention and for his immediate release!